NEXT HAIRBRAINED PROJECT: Customizing a French 1935A .32 Long

[SharpsDressedMan]

Help me out here. After treating myself to a beautiful 60th birthday gift of a SIG P210, I became intrigued by the fact that the SIG was inspired by the older French 1935A service auto in 7.65 French Long. Not a popular surplus gun due to a shortage of ammo, the sleek little auto can be found for low bucks, but has a few built in problems. It is balanced nicely, feels good in the hand, and seems to be finely made, but the barrel is a little loose at the muzzle, and the trigger just about 2-3lbs. too heavy. I haven't even shot it yet, but the reloading for it doesn't scare me, and it should easily deliver a 85gr. JHP about 1100-1150fps, and a 60 gr JHP maybe to 1250-1300, making it an interesting small game gun. I'd be interested in knowing if you know any competent gunsmiths that would take on the project of fitting a custom threaded bushing into the slide to tighted the muzzle, and maybe try a hand at adjusting the sear/hammer a bit for an agreeable trigger pull. Along with a slight improvement on the sights, and this might be a truly fine trail gun. Mine has a great bore, which is not as common as the 70+ year old guns are, and there appears to be little collector interest because so many guns are around, with hardly anyone shooting them. Brass is being made here and there from .32 S&W Long on a lathe, so reloading shoud be easy. Anyone got one, or customized one, or know some innovative gunsmiths that like the unusual?

 

[MaterDei]

Hairbrained? No way! I like the way you think, SDM. Any thoughts about possibly rechambering to something more mainstream?

 

[56hawk]

I have one, it's an original WWII model produced under German occupation. What letter code is yours? It's a script letter in front of the serial number. If it's an A through D, don't mess with it. If it's a later code it's post war and not very collectable.

As far as reloading goes I found mine works just fine using 32 ACP brass with the bullet loaded as far out as possible. I've found an 80 grain bullet at a minimum of 950 fps is required to cycle the slide.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I've thought about rebarreling and coming up with a necked down case, maybe to .22. Wait a minute! Maybe a 5.7 case cut down. Nope, the 5.7 case is smaller, but if I DO rebarrel, those 5.7 cases shortened and taken down to .224 again might be very interesting, as long as I don't go crazy and try to keep pressures up too high.